Meet Cardinal Kevin Farrell: The Vatican's pivotal leader

Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell is one of the prominent figures in the contemporary Catholic Church, known for holding key positions at the Vatican and years of pastoral service in the United States and Mexico.

Born in Ireland, Farrell gained international recognition for his work on behalf of the laity, families, and life, as well as his involvement in managing the finances of the Holy See.

His career encompasses both priestly and administrative service, making him one of the more influential figures in the Roman Curia.

Kevin Joseph Farrell was born on September 2, 1947, in Dublin, Ireland, as the second of four sons in a family that spoke Irish. His older brother, Brian Farrell, also a clergyman, has served as Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity since 2002. Kevin Farrell grew up in an environment deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, which influenced his later life choices.

After completing elementary and high school, Farrell began his studies at the University of Salamanca in Spain, where he earned a bachelor's degree in arts.

He then continued his education at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, obtaining bachelor's degrees in philosophy and theology. He also studied at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), where he earned a master's degree in dogmatic theology (1976) and a bachelor's in pastoral theology (1977). Additionally, he completed studies at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, securing a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and in 2017, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the university.

In 1966, at the age of 19, Kevin Farrell joined the Legionaries of Christ, beginning his priestly formation. He was ordained a priest on December 24, 1978, in Rome, at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, by Cardinal Eduardo Pironio.

After ordination, he was sent to Mexico, where he served as a chaplain at the University of Monterrey, conducting seminars on bioethics and social ethics. He then served as the general administrator of the Legionaries of Christ, overseeing seminars and schools in Italy, Spain, and Ireland.

In 1984, Farrell left the Legionaries of Christ and was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Washington in the United States. There, he began his pastoral work as a vicar in the parishes of St. Peter in Olney, St. Bartholomew in Bethesda, and St. Thomas the Apostle in Washington. In 1985, he became the director of the archdiocese’s Spanish Catholic Center, and in 1988, he served as the interim director of Catholic Charities there. From 1989 to 2001, he served as the secretary for finance of the archdiocese, and in 1995, he was given the title of honorary prelate by the Vatican.

In 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed Farrell as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Washington and pastor of the Annunciation Parish. On December 28 of the same year, Farrell was appointed auxiliary bishop of Washington with the titular see of Rusuccuru. He received his episcopal consecration on February 11, 2002, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, from then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Farrell as the diocesan bishop of Dallas, Texas, where he served until 2016. During this time, he became known as a critic of abortion and an advocate for the papal exhortation "Amoris Laetitia," which concerned pastoral care of families. He also served as chairman of the Committee on National Collections of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2009, and as the moderator of the Council for Financial Management of the Diocese.

In 2016, Pope Francis appointed Farrell as the prefect of the newly created Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, which began operations on September 1, 2016. In the same year, on October 9, the pope announced that Farrell would become a cardinal, and the consistory took place on November 19, 2016. Farrell received the title of cardinal deacon with the titular church of San Giuliano Martire in Rome.

As the prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, Farrell focused on promoting the role of the laity in the Church and supporting pastoral care of families. In 2022, he emphasized that marriage and family are central themes for the Church, and families founded on the sacrament of marriage play a key role in passing on the faith. In one interview, he stated that in the future, the laity could head the dicastery, in line with the reforms introduced by Pope Francis in the "Praedicate Evangelium" constitution.

Farrell played a pivotal role in organizing the World Meetings of Families, including the X Meeting in 2022, which was held in a new format, combining events in Rome with local initiatives worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he convinced Pope Francis to postpone the World Meeting of Families and World Youth Day to 2022 and 2023, arguing that organizing such events under uncertain conditions would be irresponsible.

After the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, as the camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, took on key responsibilities related to managing the Holy See during the sede vacante period. In 2019, Pope Francis appointed him to this position, entrusting him with the administration of the Vatican after the pope's death or resignation. As camerlengo, Farrell announced the pope's death and oversees the preparations for the conclave that will select the new successor of St. Peter.

The role of camerlengo at the time of the pope's death is not only administrative but also symbolic. Farrell manages the daily affairs of the Vatican, seals the papal apartments, and oversees the organization of the pope's funeral. His experience in financial and administrative management makes him an ideal candidate for this role.

Besides the role of camerlengo, Cardinal Farrell holds several other important positions in the Vatican, which remain significant even during the sede vacante period.

In 2020, he became the chairman of the Commission for Confidentiality, a new body in the Roman Curia responsible for oversight of confidential legal, economic, and financial documents. In 2022, he assumed the position of chairman of the Pontifical Committee for Investments, and since January 1, 2024, he has also been president of the Supreme Court of Vatican City State. Additionally, in 2018, he became a member of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, and in 2017, a member of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

Cardinal Farrell has not avoided controversies. In 2019, he admitted to accepting a donation of $29,000 from Bishop Michael J. Bransfield for the renovation of his apartment in Rome.

The money came from funds of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, causing a scandal when it was revealed that Bransfield was using diocesan funds for personal expenses. Farrell returned the money to the diocese, and Bransfield was removed from office.

Moreover, in 2019, there were speculations regarding Farrell's connections with Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, with whom he shared a residence in Washington when he was vicar general. McCarrick was later accused of sexual abuse, casting a shadow over some of his associates. However, there is no evidence that Farrell was involved in any wrongdoing.

The death of the pope triggers a precisely planned sequence of actions aimed at ensuring the continuity of the Church's functioning and a dignified farewell to its leader. Francis, on the eve of his death, appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to give the Urbi et Orbi blessing, and then he entered the popemobile for a long drive around the square – as it turned out, it was his last public appearance.

Immediately after the death is pronounced, strictly defined rituals commence – the body is moved to St. Peter’s Basilica, and the person serving as camerlengo calls out the pope’s name three times and touches his forehead with a silver hammer, which symbolically confirms the death of the Church's head.

The camerlengo is responsible for taking over leadership of the Vatican at that time – currently, it is American Cardinal Kevin Farrell – who, among other duties, destroys the papal Fisherman’s Ring and coordinates the preparations for the conclave, which is the election of the new pope.

The conclave begins a few days after the funeral and proceeds in strict secrecy – cardinal electors are sequestered in the Sistine Chapel and vote until a new head of the Church is selected, following an age-old procedure and precise protocol.